Science Forums 2

[UncleAl]

America labors under the propagandistic swill that paying thousands of dollars more for a hybrid automobile with a limited battery pack life will save them money over time given the higher mileage. It will never pay itself back. Modern diesels at the same horsepower get 60 mpg without lies.

Work it out! You pay $5000 more for a hybrid, plus 8% sales tax on the excess, plus higher registration fees, plus higher insurance rates. Over five years you might pay an extra $6000 total easy. Say you get twice the gas mileage of a standard car. Your gasoline costs half as much/mile. If gasoline costs $(US)3/gallon, you must buy 4000 gallons to break even for the extra money you paid - or drive 180,000 miles at 45 mpg in five years. That is rather amusing, especially since it doesn't include the interest you lost for not having the $6000 invested.